Phytopathology (2017) 107, 681-691

Janja Lamovsek, Barbara Geric Stare, Irena Mavric Plesko, Sasa Sirca and Gregor Urek (2017)
Agrobacteria enhance plant defense against root-knot nematodes on tomato
Phytopathology 107 (6), 681-691
Abstract: The increased incidence of the crown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens has long been associated with activities of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Pot experiments on tomato were designed to assess plant vitality, nematode reproduction, and crown gall incidence in combined infection with Agrobacterium and Meloidogyne spp. on tomato roots. Results suggest that tomato plants infected with pathogenic A. tumefaciens 2 days before the nematodes show enhanced plant defense against M. ethiopica resulting in lower egg and gall counts on roots 45 and 90 days postinoculation (dpi); no significantly enhanced defense was observed when the plant was inoculated with bacteria and nematodes at the same time. Split-root experiments also showed that the observed interaction was systemic. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis that targeted several genes under plant hormonal control suggests that the suppression was mediated via systemic acquired resistance by the pathogenesis-related protein 1 and that M. ethiopica did not enhance the defense reaction of tomato against Agrobacterium spp. Nematodes completely inhibited tumor growth in a 45-day experiment if inoculated onto the roots before the pathogenic bacteria. We conclude that the observed antagonism in the tested pathosystem was the result of initially strong plant defense that was later suppressed by the invading pathogen and pest.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Sasa Sirca, Gregor Urek

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Agrobacterium tumefaciens	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
	Meloidogyne ethiopica	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)